Direct contact condenser

ABSTRACT

A direct contact condenser wherein a plurality of vertically spaced, apertured elements are disposed on each of two opposing sides of the condenser inlet. The apertured elements of each plurality cooperate to provide a tortuous steam flow passage communicating with the condenser inlet, and are provided with a cooling liquid whereby the liquid is discharged in streams through the steam flow passages and forms the primary condensing medium of the condenser.

United States Patent Inventors Robert J. Stoker Phillipsburg, N.,].; Leslie L. Forster, Easton, Pa.

Appl. No. 725,055

Filed Apr. 29, 1968 Patented Apr. 20, 1971 Assignee Ingersoll-Rand Company New York, N.Y.

DIRECT CONTACT CONDENSER 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 261/113,

Int. Cl F28b 3/04 Field ofSearch 261/113, 118; 165/116, 112-115 References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS Grace 1,962,183 6/1934 Ehrhart 165/1 12X 2,558,222 6/1951 Parkinson 261/118 2,663,547 12/1953 Evans, Jr. et al... 165/112 2,782,150 2/1957 Stalcup 165/114X 2,956,784 10/1960 Parkinson 165/112 Primary ExaminerTim R. Miles AttorneysCar1 R. l-lorten, David W. Tibbott and Robert R.

Paquin ABSTRACT: A direct contact condenser wherein a plurality of vertically spaced, apertured elements are disposed on each.

of two opposing sides of the condenser inlet. The apertured elements of each plurality cooperate to provide a tortuous steam flow passage communicating with the condenser inlet, and are provided with a cooling liquid whereby the liquid is discharged in streams through the steam flow passages and 1 forms the primary condensing medium of the condenser.

Patented April 20, 1971 3,515.39:

INVENTORS ROBERT J. STOKE)? LESLIE L. FORSTER ATTORNEY DIRECT CONTACT CONDENSER THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to condensers and more particularly to the provision of a new and improved direct contact condenser wherein the primary condensing medium is formed by streams of cooling liquid discharged through tortuous steam flow passages.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved direct contact condenser which is relatively simple in construction and highly efficient and reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved direct Contact condenser which is particularly constructed and arranged to besuitable for installation beneath the apparatus from which it receives steam.

These objects, and those other objects and advantages of the invention which will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, are attained by the provision of a direct contact condenser comprising a shell and inlet means for introducing steam to the shell. A first plurality of vertically spaced, apertured elements are disposed in the shell on one side of the inlet means and cooperate to provide a tortuous first steam flow passage which communicates withthe inlet means and extends successively below such apertured elements. A second plurality of vertically spaced, apertured elements are disposed in the shell on another side of the inlet means and cooperate to provide a tortuous second steam flow passage which communicates with ,the inlet means and extends successively below such apertured elements. A means is provided for supplying a cooling liquid to the apertured elements whereby the latter discharge streams of cooling liquid through the steam flow passages, such streams of liquid being the primary condensing medium ofthe condenser.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. I is an elevational sectional view of a direct contact condenser constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the condenser shown in FIG. 1 taken on line 2-2 of FIG; 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, wherein the flow of steam is depicted by arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, wherein the fiow of noncondensable gases is depicted by arrows; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, elevational sectional view showing the details of construction of the apertured elements defining one of the steam flow passages, wherein the steam flow is depicted by arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a direct contact condenser comprising a shell or housing designated generally as which is provided with suitable internal bracing by bracing elements 12,14, 16, and 18. The shell 10 is elongated in the horizontal direction to form. the condenser with a high capacity for a relatively low overall height; and each of the longitudinal horizontal ends of the shell 10 is provided with a condensate outlet arranged to discharge condensate from the bottom or lower end of the shell 10. The condensate outlets 20 are, as will be understood, during the operation of the condenser suitably connected to conventional piping or conduits (not shown) adapted to discharge condensate to a boiler or other conventional condensate receiver.

The shell 10 is provided with an inletmeans arranged to receive steam from a source, such as the turbine 22'fragmentarily shown in broken lines in FIG. ll, above the shell 10 and to direct the steam downwardly into the shell 10 centrally of the latter. This inlet means comprises a generally vertical, steam inlet duct 24 peripherally defined at its upper end by a collector 26 and an annular wall 28 appended to the upper end of the shell 10, and adjacent its lower end bounded along 34 of the shell 10. This arrangement, as will be noted, causes the steam inlet duct 24 to discharge steam into the shell 10 centrally of, and substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of, the shell 10. A baffle means or plate 36 is mounted by supports 38 beneath the lower end of the steam inlet duct 24 and serves to divide the steam flowing therethrough into a pair of lateral steam flows towards the sidewalls 40, 40a of the shell 10. The baffle plate 36, as will be noted from FIG. 1, extends the full length of the shell 10; and the supports 38 are connected at their opposing ends to the end walls 34 of the shell 10.

A first plurality of vertically spaced, apertured elements are disposed in the shell 10 on one side of the inlet means or duct 24; and a second plurality of vertically spaced, apertured elements are disposed in the shell 10 on the opposing side of the inlet duct 24. The apertured elements of each plurality cooperate to provide a tortuous steam flow passage which communicates with the inlet duct 24 to receive one of the lateral flows of steam, the apertured elements discharging streams of cooling liquid through the steam flow passages to cause steam therein to be condensed.

The first plurality of apertured elements, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4, is positioned on the left-hand side of the inlet duct 24 and comprises a first or. lower apertured element in the form of a tray-42. The tray 42 is welded or otherwise suitably affixed along one of its sides to the adjacent baffle plate 32, and arranged to project laterally from such baffle plate 32 towards the adjacent sidewall 40 in spaced relation to the bottom of the shell 10 and above the lateral steam flow towards the sidewall 40 provided by the'baffle plate 36. The tray 42 includes a plurality of apertures or spray openings 44 in its bottom, and longitudinally extends the full length of the shell 10 whereby its opposing ends are connected to the end walls 34. The tray 42 is, however, spaced from the sidewall 40 by a flow space 46 which permits steam flow vertically between the tray 42 and the sidewall 40 throughout the length of the tray 42.

-A second apertured element in the form of a tray 48 is welded or otherwise suitably affixed to the sidewall 40 above, and in vertically spaced relation to, the tray 42. The tray 48 includes apertures or spray openings 50 in its bottom and, although sufiiciently overhanging the tray 42 to cause cooling liquid passing through the apertures 50 to fall into the tray 42, is spaced throughout its length from the adjacent baffle plate 32 to provide a vertical flow space 52 therebetween. The tray 48, similarly to the tray 42, extends the full length of the shell l0 and has its opposing ends connected to the end walls 34 of the latter.

A third apertured element in the form of a plate 54, having apertures or spray openings 56 therethrough, is positioned above the tray 48 and in vertically spaced relation thereto. The plate 54, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, is mounted on the sidewall 40 and affixed by welding or other suitable means to the adjacent baffle plates 30, 32. The plate 54 extends the full length of the shell 10 and is mounted at its opposing ends on the end walls 34 of the shell 10. Hence, as will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, cooling liquid flowing through the apertures 56 falls into the tray 48.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that the apertured elements 42, 48, 54 cooperate to provide a tortuous first steam fiow passage which, due to the before-described arrangement of such apertured elements, causes steam passing therethrough to successively flow outwardly from the inlet duct 24, inwardly towards such inletduct 24, and then again outwardly from the inlet duct 24. It will, moreover, be seen that this first steam flow passage directs steam upwardly in the shell 10 and, due to its tortuousness and reversal of steam flow, is adapted to provide maximum condensing action in a minimal space.

The second plurality of apertured elements, as shown in FIG. 2, is positioned on the right-hand side of the inlet duct 24. This second plurality includes a first 'or lower apertured element in the form of a tray 58. a second apertured element in the form of a tray 60, and a third apertured element in the form of an apertured plate 62. The apertured elements 58, 60, 62 are constructed identically to the apertured elements 42, 48, and 54, respectively, and are also arranged identically to the latter. Hence, in view of the previous detailed description of the construction and arrangement of the apertured elements 42, 48, 54, it is believed that the construction and arrangement ofthe apertured elements 58, 60,62 is apparent.

Similarly, the second steam flow passage provided by the second plurality of apertured elements 58, 60, 62 is identical to the aforementioned first steam flow passage and directs steam successively outwardly from the inlet duct 24, inwardly theretowards, and then again outwardly therefrom. Moreover, this second steam flow passage also directs the steam upwardly in the shell and, due to its construction, provides maximum condensing action in minimum space.

Means are provided for supplying cooling liquid to the apertured elements of each plurality whereby the apertured elements discharge streams of cooling liquid through therebelow portions of the steam flow passages. This cooling liquid supply means, as illustrated, comprises chambers 64, 66 formed in the shell 10 above the apertured plates 54, 62, respectively, and bounded along their lower sides by the respective one of such apertured plates. An inlet 68 communicates with each of the chambers 64, 66 and, during the operation of the condenser, is connected to a conventional source of a cooling liquid, such as cold water, suitable for use as the condensing medium ofa direct contact condenser.

In addition, as will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, tortuous passage means are provided for discharging noncondensable gases from the upper ends of the steam flow passages. These tortuous passage means are of identical construction and, as will be seen from FIG. 3 wherein one thereof has been shown for the purposes of illustration, each comprise a plurality of sets of baffle plates 70, 72, 74 which are arranged to provide labyrinth flow passages 75 communicating with the upper end of a respective one of the steam flow passages. The noncondensable gases are discharged from the labyrinth flow passages 75 into a manifold passage or duct 76 from whence they are discharged from the shell 10 through an outlet 78.

in the operation of the before-described direct contact condenser, cold water or other suitable cooling liquid is supplied to the chambers 64, 66 through the inlets 68. Colling liquid is discharged in streams from the chamber 64 through the apertures 56 in the plate 54 and falls through the portion of the first steam flow passage therebelow into the tray 48. The tray 48 discharges cooling liquid streams through the portion of the first steam flow passage therebelow into the tray 42 which, in turn, discharges streams of cooling liquid to the bottom of the shell 10. In this manner, the apertured elements 54, 48, 42 are successively fed cooling liquid supplied to the chamber 64; and the first steam flow passage is saturated by streams of falling cooling liquid throughout substantially its entire length.

Moreover, cooling liquid is simultaneously discharged in streams from the chamber 66 through the apertures in the plate 62 and, in a manner identical to that aforedescribed with regard to the first steam flow passage, passes downwardly through the second steam flow passage and the trays 58, 60 to the bottom of the shell 10. Hence, the apertured elements 62, 60, 58 are successively fed cooling liquid supplied to the chamber 66; and the second steam flow passage is also saturated by streams of falling cooling liquid throughout substantially its entire length.

Steam from the turbine 22 (or other source) is supplied to the inlet duct 24 which directs the steam downwardly into the shell 10. The baffle plate 36 divides this steam into a pair of opposing steam flows, one flowing laterally in the shell 10 to the first steam flow passage and the other flowing laterally in the shell 10 to the second steam flow passage. The steam supplied to the first steam flow passage flows successively beneath the apertured elements 42, 48 54, and durin this flOWJS substantially entirely condensed due to its contac with the streams of cooling liquid falling through the first steam flow passage. The condensate formed from this steam, of course, falls downwardly with the downwardly falling streams of cooling liquid. The noncondensable gases flowing into the first steam flow passage pass into the labyrinth flow passages 75 from whence they are discharged by the communicating manifold 76 and outlet 78 from the shell 10.

Similarly, the portion of the steam flowing to the second steam flow passage passes successively beneath the apertured elements 58, 60, 62 and is condensed by direct contact with the streams of cooling liquid provided by such apertured elements. The condensate, thus formed, falls downwardly to the bottom of the shell 10; and the noncondensable gases in the steam are discharged in a manner identical to that of the aforedescribed discharge of the noncondensable gases from the first steam flow passage.

From the aforegoing it will be seen that we have provided new and improved means for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of our invention. It will be understood, however, that, although we have illustrated and hereinbefore specifically described only a single embodiment of our invention, the invention is not limited merely to this single embodiment but rather contemplates other embodiments and variations within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A direct contact condenser comprising a horizontally elongated shell, means defining a generally vertical steam inlet duct having an upper end for receiving steam and a lower end in said shell for discharging steam to said shell, said steam inlet duct being laterally generally centrally of said shell to provide portions of said shell on opposite sides of said steam inlet duct and said steam inlet duct at least adjacent its said lower end extending the length of said shell to discharge steam to such shell portions throughout the length of said shell, a first plurality of apertured elements in one of such shell portions vertically spaced along one side of said steam inlet duct, a second plurality of apertured elements in the other of such shell portions vertically spaced along the other side of said steam inlet duct, the apertured elements of each said plurality being staggered to define a tortuous steam flow passage which at its lower end communicates with said lower end of said steam inlet duct and upwardly extends successively below each apertured element of the plurality, means for supplying cooling liquid to the apertured elements whereby the latter discharge streams of cooling liquid through said tortuous steam flow passages, and means at the upper ends of said tortuous steam flow passages providing labyrinth passages for discharging noncondensable gases from said tortuous steam flow passages, said streams of cooling liquid being the primary condensing medium of the condenser.

2. A direct contact condenser according to claim 1, wherein said labyrinth passage providing means comprises baffle means disposed below the uppermost apertured element of each plurality.

3. A direct contact condenser according to claim 2, wherein said apertured elements each extend the length of the shell, said cooling liquid supply means comprises a chamber bounded at its lower end by the uppermost apertured element of each said plurality, and the apertured elements ofeach said plurality are arranged to cause cooling liquid discharged by the uppermost apertured element of the plurality to pass downwardly through therebelow ones of the apertured elements and then be discharged to the bottom of said shell.

4. A direct contact condenser according to claim 3, further comprising baffle means extending the length of said shell below said lower end of said steam inlet duct for directing steam from such lower end towards said tortuous steam flow passages. 

1. A direct contact condenser comprising a horizontally elongated shell, means defining a generally vertical steam inlet duct having an upper end for receiving steam and a lower end in said shell for discharging steam to said shell, said steam inlet duct being laterally generally centrally of said shell to provide portions of said shell on opposite sides of said steam inlet duct and said steam inlet duct at least adjacent its said lower end extending the length of said shell to discharge steam to such shell portions throughout the length of said shell, a first plurality of apertured elements in one of such shell portions vertically spaced along one side of said steam inlet duct, a second plurality of apertured elements in the other of such shell portions vertically spaced along the other side of said steam inlet duct, the apertured elements of each said plurality being staggered to define a tortuous steam flow passage which at its lower end communicates with said lower end of said steam inlet duct and upwardly extends successively below each apertured element of the plurality, means for supplying cooling liquid to the apertured elements whereby the latter discharge streams of cooling liquid through said tortuous steam flow passages, and means at the upper ends of said tortuous steam flow passages providing labyrinth passages for discharging noncondensable gases from said tortuous steam flow passages, said streams of cooling liquid being the primary condensing medium of the condenser.
 2. A direct contact condenser according to claim 1, wherein said labyrinth passage providing means comprises baffle means disposed below the uppermost apertured element of each plurality.
 3. A direct contact condenser according to claim 2, wherein said apertured elements each extend the length of the shell, said cooling liquid supply means comprises a chamber bounded at its lower end by the uppermost apertured element of each said plurality, and the apertured elements of each said plurality are arranged to cause cooling liquid discharged by the uppermost apertured element of the plurality to pass downwardly through therebelow ones of the apertured elements and then be discharged to the bottom of said shell.
 4. A direct contact condenser according to claim 3, further comprising baffle means extending the length of said shell below said lower end of said steam inlet duct for directing steam from such lower end towards said tortuous steam flow passages. 